Related stories

The prototype visor has 11 LEDs around the eyes and nose. They run off a lithium ion battery.

In a small experiment using OpenCV face-detection software and 10 subjects, the detection rate decreased to zero regardless of distance when the Privacy Visor was used.

"The possibility of photographs taken in secret and unintentional capture in camera images resulting in the invasion of privacy has already been pointed out in Europe and other regions," the institute writes in a release.

"Due to concerns about the invasion of privacy from SNS facial recognition functions, the European Union has requested the invalidation of facial recognition in Facebook intended for European users."

While the research was prompted by the popularity of phone cameras, social networks, and Google Images, as well as related privacy concerns, Echizen believes the visor could also be used to prevent privacy infringement through augmented-reality applications.

What do you think? Would you put these on to thwart the all-seeing eye?

About the author

Crave freelancer Tim Hornyak is the author of "Loving the Machine: The Art and Science of Japanese Robots." He has been writing about Japanese culture and technology for a decade. E-mail Tim.
See full bio